Prehypertension and Its Correlates in Adults Attending Family Practice in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Background: Prehypertension is systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg. It is a precursor to hypertension and a new risk factor for major cardiovascular diseases. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of prehypertension in adult patients at the Family Medicine Clinic, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study at the Family Medicine Clinic, UNTH Enugu, between August and November 2022. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Out of 3708 patients, systematic random sampling was used to identify 340 prehypertensive adults. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, sociodemographic, clinical and anthropometric data were obtained. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 23.0 software. Results: The prevalence of prehypertension was 38.1%. Prehypertension was more common in females (62.1%) than males and those aged <51 years (81.6%). Using point-biserial correlation and Pearson correlation studies, age, low educational level and waist-to-hip ratio correlated positively and significantly with systolic prehypertension. Body mass index (BMI) correlated positively and significantly with diastolic prehypertension. Age and BMI were predictors of systolic and diastolic prehypertensions, respectively, with P values of 0.008 and 0.007. Conclusion: Prehypertension is common in adults at the family medicine clinic in Enugu, and this has implications for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Public health education efforts need to capture this new reality.